Lee, 35 cal., 125 gr. Tumble Lube

[Ben]

A few months ago, I bought a new Lee , Tumble lube mold. The 125 gr. Tumble lube design. Actually, I believe it is intended for the 9 mm Luger.
I was hoping that it would cast at least .358". It was not to be....... My alloy of ACWW's cast bullets in the neighborhood of .3565 " with the mold.

I wanted a cheap economical bullet for plinking purposes for my several 38 Specials and 357 Mags. I needed .358" dia. bullets for all those revolvers.

So, nothing to do but spin a few bullets in the under-sized cavities of the mold with some fine Clovers Abrasive Paste.

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Wasn't long before I had both cavities of the mold dropping bullets at .359".
One side benefit you'll gain is the bullets will jump out of the mold when the mold is opened. No more sticking ! ! ! No more Tap , Tap, Tap ! ! !

Looks like I'm good to go now. Anyone want to offer a good load for this bullet in the 38 Special ? Some say that 3.5 grs. of B'eye or Red Dot is a good place to start looking ? I was also considering some Clays ?

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[btroj]

I bet 3 to 4 gr of 231 would work quite well. 2.5 to 3.5 of Clays would too.

That is a nice looking bullet for what you are after. I use a Lee 158 SWC, the discontinued plain base, with 45-45-10 for the same purposes.

I shoot 3.5 to 4 gr of HP38 with that bullet.

[Ben]

These 125's will stretch my alloy reserves
while I'm out plinking and paper punching.

I'll get 44 bullets from a pound of alloy with the 158 gr. bullet.
I'll get 56 bullets from a pound of alloy with the 125 gr. bullet.

[fecmech]

Two very accurate loads for the Lee 120TC (close cousin) are 4.0- 4.5/BE and 4.8- 5.3/ 231. The 4.5/5.3 runs 1220 out of a rifle and a tad over 1000 in a handgun. I think you will find happiness in that range somewhere Ben.

[btroj]

I need to get a 125 gr moulds for my 357s. I could stand to reduce the lead output from them.

I bet the target never gets away just because you hit it with a lighter bullet, does it Ben?

Let us know how you like this bullet compaired to the Lee 125 with standard grooves.

[Ben]

I need to get a 125 gr moulds for my 357s. I could stand to reduce the lead output from them.

I bet the target never gets away just because you hit it with a lighter bullet, does it Ben?

Let us know how you like this bullet compaired to the Lee 125 with standard grooves.

Will do..............

Thanks,
Ben

[williamwaco]

I use it in the .38 special with 3.0 to 3.5 gr Bullseye.

Groups in 1.00" to 1.25" at 25 yards in my Thompson Contender.
Around 1.5 to 2.0 in my S&W M19.

[Ben]

I use it in the .38 special with 3.0 to 3.5 gr Bullseye.

Groups in 1.00" to 1.25" at 25 yards in my Thompson Contender.
Around 1.5 to 2.0 in my S&W M19.

I have a 4" Model 19 and a 6", 686.

Sounds like a good place to start !

Thanks,
Ben

[Harter66]

I shoot 3.8 Unique in the 9mm , 5.0/38,6.0/357 . That comes out about 1200 3"9mm,1100 4' Smith,1150 6" sec6 round numbers, and 450 more in a 18" Carb. Groups at 25 are less than 3" typically.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I Use the Lee 358-125 RF (with standard lube groove)
it's very similar to your Lee TL TC
I use 4.3gr. Bullseye (that's .46cc if you use Lee's Disk measure)
for a 38 spl. target load.
Jon